Sound reproducer for talking machines



Jan.9,1923., 1,441,862..

s. 1; LEVEEN.

SOUND REPRODUCER FOR TALKING MACHINES. .FIL ED APR. 7. 1920.

FIG. 2

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.7. '0 all whom it may concern Application filed rpm 7,

Be it known that l, SWAN J4. Lnvnm, a

jcitiaen of. the United States, residing "at liot'lr Island, in theCOLllltYOf Roclrlsland and State of ltllmoia have invented certainv new,and useful [Improvements in Sound Reproducers for llalk ing Machines,"

' olf whichithe following is a specification.

My invention relates tosound reproducers "for talking machines andenrbodiesc'ertain novel features whereby the tones of the in- ".strumentcan begreatly modulated and the volume thereof 'reducechiwithout in anyway interfering with the clearness and distinctness of the tones.

1 Most machines of the kind mentioned are provided with some means formodifying the volume of the sound produced thereby.

mlhis usually consists of some form .of shutill 5) ters or dampers whichi are projected int-o or across the hornshaped passage through which thesound travels. These contrivanc always obstruct the passage to a greateror less extent, and interfere with the passage of a portion of the soundWaves.

"lhese sound waves are thus turned, or re :l'racted, toward thediaphragm, and hinder the free movement of the other sound waves,destroying the clearness of the tones,

and giving a muffled effect thereto.

@ne ofthe principal objects of the present invention is to overcome thisfault. This is accomplished by means of devices which do not in any wayinterrupt nor interfere with the passage of the sound-waves through thehorn or sound intensifying chamber of i the machine, but which are onthe opposite side of the diaphragm therefrom, and 0011- trol the actionof thediaphragm itself. v The constructlon, arrangement and operation ofthe various parts oi my invention a will be more fully understood fromthe following specification, reference being had to the drawingsaccompanying the same, in which:

Fig. l shows my invention in froi'lt eleva tiom detached.

2 is a vertical. cross-sectionthereof. represents the reproducer box,provided with a connection collar 2, within which box is supported theusual diaphragm 3. The box 1. has an extension 4, in which is held acircular plate 5, the edge of said plate having a screw connection withthe part a so that each plate saute aohusted with,

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sntrnrins; or noon ISLAND, trimmers.

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1920. SerialNo. 371,983.

relation to the diaphragm. 6 is a needle arm, passing through a centralopening-in handle 9, having aperforation which engages a pin 10 fixedinthe plate 5. i Said arm is projected into an arm 11 which a bearing onthe plate stat the opposite side thereof, said arm having a bearing at acentral point against a disk 1% secured to the plate 5, and perforatedto permit the passage ofzthe arm 6. The arm 9 with its extensionllexerts a spring tension upon the disk 12, tending to hold the sameoutwardly, and preventing any vibration of the plate 5 which might beimparted thereto from the diaphragmf "The inner face 0-13 the plateSills slightly r-lnicaved, andis provided with a lining'lll of fabric orother suitable material, which presents to the diaphragm a roughenedface or surface. As is well understood the vi brations of the diaphragmcause the sounds to be imparted equallyon each side thereof. r If thelining 13 were not used the sounds moving outwardly from the dia phragmwould strike against the plate and be refracted returning against thediaphragm, and causing a counter-sound through the diaphragm, tending toconfuse thetones on the inner side thereof. The roughened face of thelining 13, however, absorbs the tones moving outwardly, and preventsthem from interfering with the clear tones of the diaphragm which arepassing through the horn of the machine.

As before mentioned, in some machines ithas been. customary to undertaketo reduce the volume of the tones by means 0 t obstrucv tions in thepassageway for such tones, but the same result can be produced bylimiting or reducing the vibrating power of the diaphragm. This isaccomplished inthe present invention by adjustment of the plate 5towards the diaphragn'r and is caused primarily by the consequent redun"tent.

the diapln'agni iinrreasing as the plate approaches the latter. Thistends to limitthe vibrations, changing the quality oi the tone, and.reducing the volume thereoi to some ex- As the iiim'eiiieiit oi theplate inwardly continues. howei'er. the outer whole of the lining comesin. Contact with the diaphragm, in. effect reducing the circumferencethereof, and. still "further limiting the vibrations. This also operatesto reduce the Volume of the tones on the inner side oi the diaphrae ni.The amount of eontact of the lining nith i'18 diaphragm can he graduallyincreased, until very limited portion of such diaphragm is permitted tovibrate, reducing, its tone iniparting power proportionately.

The action of the lining 1.8 upon the diaphragin has a tendency toincrease the pitch.

of the tones which wonld'he refracted from the plate 5, and interferewith the tones on the opposite side of the diaphragm. if it were not forthe presence of such lining, the roughened surface of which absorbs thesharp tones on the outer side oi? said dia phragm. The elearness anddistinetness o the reduced tones is thereby retained.

The plate 5 also interferes with the tones on the outer side of thediaphragm escaping into the outer atmosphere, so as to interfere Withand confuse the sounds produeed from the inner side of such diaphragni.in this account the use oi a ('(Hxl' or other means for enclosing thereprodni-i'r is not necessary, so far as these tones are concerned.

It will he obvious that when it is desired to increase the volume oncemore, this can he done by moving the plate 5 ouhvardly again.

There has been. shown in the drawings and set forth in the specificationherein the preferred form of the inventiim, and it is obvious thatchanges can he made in. the construction and arrangement thereof Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim and desire to secure. is:

In a device or the class desrrihed. the combination of a. reprodin-erhox and diaphragm mounted therein; a plate supported in said ho): hy a.screw-threaded connection. so as to be capable of adjustment withrelation to said iliaphragm, and having; a l'Ull" cave face adjacent tosaid diaphragm; a lining on said concave face tapahle of moditying thevibratory tones of the diaphragm and means for rotating said plate, andoxerting tension. thereon to prevent vihration thereof.

In testimony whereof 1. aflix my signature.

